• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • News
    • CrossFit
    • Strongman
    • Bodybuilding
    • Top Athletes
    • Powerlifting
    • Weightlifting
    • HYROX
    • Competition Results
    • Latest Research
  • Reviews
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Mini-Massage Guns
    • Supplements
      • Best Protein
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
        • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
        • Best Mass Gainer
        • Best Protein Bars
      • Best Pre-Workouts
        • Best Pre-Workout for Women
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
        • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
        • Strongest Pre-Workouts
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Fat Burners
      • Individual Supplement Reviews
    • Cardio Equipment
      • Best Treadmills
      • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Exercise Bikes
      • Best Ellipticals
      • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Individual Cardio Equipment Reviews
    • Strength Equipment
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Leg Extension Machines
      • Individual Strength Equipment Reviews
    • Apparel
      • Best Weightlifting Shoes
      • Best Cross Training Shoes
      • Best Running Shoes
      • Best Gym Shorts
    • Fitness Tech
      • Best Running Apps
      • Best Fitness Trackers
      • Best Workout Apps
      • Best Smart Scales
    • Support Gear
      • Best Lifting Straps
      • Best Gym Bags
      • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Best Wrist Wraps
  • Nutrition
    • Diets
      • Carb Cycling
      • Vertical Diet
      • Reverse Dieting
      • Carnivore Diet
      • Ketogenic Diet
      • Intermittent Fasting
      • IIFYM Diet
    • Muscle Gain
      • How to Dirty Bulk
      • Go From Cutting to Bulking
      • Eat These Carbs
      • How to Eat for Muscle
    • Fat Loss
      • Macros for Fat Loss
      • Calorie Deficits
      • Natural Fat Burners
      • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
    • Supplement Guides
      • Pre-Workout
      • Whey Protein
      • Mass Gainers
      • Greens Powders
      • Creatine
      • BCAAs
    • Daily Protein Needs
    • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
    • Foods With Creatine
    • Bulking Tips
  • Training
    • Workouts
      • Back Workouts
      • At-Home Workouts
      • Chest & Back Workouts
      • Full-Body Workout
      • HIIT Workouts
    • Exercise Guides
      • Deadlift
      • Bench Press
      • Back Squat
      • Overhead Press
      • Bent-Over Row
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Crunches
      • Farmer’s Carry
    • Best Exercises
      • Shoulder Exercises
      • Back Exercises
      • Chest Exercises
      • Glute Exercises
      • Ab Exercises
      • Hamstring Exercises
      • Quad Exercises
      • Calf Exercises
      • Biceps Exercises
      • Triceps Exercises
    • Programs
      • Push-Up Program
      • Pull-Up Program
      • German Volume Training
      • 5/3/1 Program
      • Powerbuilding Program
      • The Cube Method
      • 5×5 Program
      • Bodybuilding Programs
      • Build Your Own Program
    • Fat Loss
      • How to Burn Fat
      • Spot Fat Reduction
      • How to Train on a Cut
      • Body Conditioning
      • Workouts
        • Kettlebell Circuits
        • Dumbbell Complexes
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
    • Muscle Gain
      • Muscle Hypertrophy Explained
      • How to Build Muscle
      • How to Maintain Muscle
      • What Researchers Say About Muscle Gain
        • Workouts
          • 20-Minute Workouts
          • Kettlebell Circuits
          • CrossFit Workouts for Muscle
          • Bodybuilding Workouts
  • Calculators
    • Protein Intake Calculator
    • Macros Calculator
    • BMR Calculator
    • Squat Calculator
    • Calorie Calculator
  • Community Forum
Home » Strongman News » UPDATED: 2021 World's Strongest Man Will Now Allow In-Person Spectators

UPDATED: 2021 World’s Strongest Man Will Now Allow In-Person Spectators

After new guidelines from the CDC and California Department of Health, WSM will now allow spectators.

Phil Blechman
Written by Phil Blechman
Last updated on August 10th, 2023

On May 10, 2021, World’s Strongest Man announced that the 2021 WSM contest, taking place in Sacramento, CA on June 15-20, will not have in-person spectators. Per the post:

“While restrictions are being lifted in California at the start of our event, we will still be operating without fans this year.”

However, that decision has changed as of June 7, 2021. WSM announced over Instagram that the competition, taking place at Old Sacramento Waterfront, will indeed allow spectators. New CDC and California Department of Health (CDPH) guidelines will take effect on June 15, allowing gatherings with minimal restrictions. What’s more, WSM will be giving away free tickets to fans who want to make the voyage to Sacramento. Each person can reserve up to four tickets per day, and will only be allowed to see the events occurring on that specific day (more on that below).

The original story continues below: 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by The World’s Strongest Man (@theworldsstrongestman)

[Related: 2021 World’s Strongest Man Qualifier Groups Announced]

Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions

Leading up to the 2021 WSM, it hasn’t been clear when California would lift COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings of large groups. However, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) says the target date to lift COVID-19 restrictions is when the WSM contest begins — June 15, 2021.

According to CDPH’s announcement on April 6, 2021:

“On June 15, all industries across the state can return to usual operations with common-sense risk reduction measures such as masking and vaccinations.”

However, whether those restrictions will be lifted is not yet confirmed, as the announcement goes on to state: “[California] will only progress to this stage if we continue to stay vigilant, keep wearing our masks, and getting vaccinated. The state will monitor hospitalization rates, vaccine access, and vaccine efficacy against variants with the option to revisit the June 15 date if needed.”

With the lifting of restrictions not confirmed before the start of the competition, WSM organizers decided that foregoing spectators is the correct decision to ensure the “safety of our athletes, staff, and the local community.”

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by JF Caron Strongman (@jfcaronstrongman)

[Related: Strongman Bobby Thompson Log Presses 217.5 Kilograms For New American Record]

2021 World’s Strongest Man

The official roster for the 2021 WSM contest has been released. The reigning champion Oleksii Novikov is slated to return and is currently deep into his prep, which includes a diet of over 5,000 calories per day. Additionally, 2020 WSM runner-up Tom Stoltman will return to challenge Novikov for the throne. There are plenty of strongmen on the roster who have a decent chance at winning the competition, including four-time WSM champion Brian Shaw and third-place finisher in 2020 JF Caron. Some big names who will miss the contest this year are 2019 WSM champion Martins Licis — his second consecutive year absent from the roster — and two-time WSM runner-up Mateusz Kieliszkowski.

The event list has also been released and includes staples of strongman competition such as the squat, deadlift, loading medley, keg toss, log press, Atlas Stones, and the return of Fingal’s Fingers. The 2021 WSM contest will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network and CBS Television Network at a later date, following the event’s completion.

Editor’s note: The title, subtitle, and intro of this story have been updated to reflect the news that WSM is now allowing spectators at its 2021 event. 

Featured image: @jfcaronstrongman on Instagram

Phil Blechman

About Phil Blechman

Phil is a native New Yorker passionate about storytelling, bodybuilding, and game design. He holds a BFA from Syracuse University.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest Reviews

Featured image for the Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review

Ironmaster Super Bench Pro V2 Review (2025): Our Expert’s New Favorite FID Bench

Titan T3 Power Rack Review

Titan T3 Power Rack Review (2025): An Expert-Approved Rig Beckoning to Budget-Minded Athletes

Our tester works out at the beach in preparation for the Rogue Resistance Bands Review

Rogue Resistance Bands Review (2025): Tested by a Certified Personal Trainer

Barbend tester Jake Herod works out on a Force USA Trainer

Force USA G3 Review (2025): Our Experts Tested This Compact All-In-One Rack for Small Home Gyms

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap